Sheremetyevo to get new fuel installation

Lukoil-Aero and Sheremetyevo invest into BFI for the north terminal zone (Photo by Lukoil)

In preparation of its ground infrastructure for the increase in traffic during the FIFA 2018 championship, Moscow’s busiest airport Sheremetyevo has commenced construction of a new, third bulk fuel installation. It will provide refueling services on the central apron of the northern terminal complex. The project is co-founded by Sheremetyevo Airport and Lukoil-Aero, the aviation fuel subsidiary of Lukoil.

The preliminary estimate of the investment amount is around $150 million. Although Lukoil-Aero is one of Russia’s top-three aviation fuel providers, it has not had a BFI at any of Moscow’s airports until now.

The new BFI with the annual capacity of 1.2 million metric tons of jet fuel and nominal volume of 20,000 cubic meters will be capable of providing simultaneous refueling services to 14 wide-body aircraft. It is intended specifically for the airport’s zone with a new runway and terminal complex, which is being built in advance of the FIFA 2018.

The new BFI will be connected to railway, equipped with automatic process control system, fuel quality control laboratory and automatic fire extinguishing system, a spokesperson for Sheremetyevo expalined. To ensure environmental safety the complex will be equipped with an oil spill containment and elimination, as well as an industrial sewage system which will prevent contamination of soil with oil.

Once the project is complete, airlines operating from Sheremetyevo will be able to chose from three competing fuel providers, the other two being Rosneft and Gazprom oil companies. “This will enable to optimize and minimize the operators’ fuel costs and make sure that basing and operating at the airport is increasingly convenient,” the airport’s spokesperson emphasized.

Powered by Air Transport Observer, Russia & CIS’ premier information provider on commercial aviation with a 20-year legacy, Russian Aviation Insider provides you with timely and reliable business news, insights and analysis on commercial aviation all around CIS.